A man riding a bicycle died after falling into a large pothole in the middle of the street in Havana, an incident that has shaken social media not only due to the severity of the accident but also because of the image of a body lying in the street for hours, visible to neighbors and passersby, as if death itself had become trapped in the same hole.
The report began to circulate following a video recorded at the scene. In the footage, a visibly shocked voice claims that the cyclist "fell into a hole" on Primera street in the Reparto Eléctrico, and died from the impact.
"Look at the dead person there, he fell off the bicycle and killed himself," he insists, while describing an environment marked by "trash," "potholes," and "leaky pipes," in a phrase that sounds less like a comment and more like a verdict on everyday life in the capital.
The Cuban activist Irma Lidia Cepero, known on social media as Irma Broek, also published a report accompanied by a photo, indicating that the incident occurred in the Reparto Eléctrico, Arroyo Naranjo municipality.
According to reports, the accident occurred around 2:00 p.m., and by 6:00 p.m., "the body was still lying in the same place." In his message, he expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
That part of the story, the wait, the abandonment, the prolonged scene, was precisely what generated the most outrage among users who commented on the post. Several insisted that it became night and the person was still there, reinforcing the idea of a delayed or nonexistent response from the authorities and responsible services.
Others, filled with pain and confusion, wondered why no one took him to a hospital or how it was possible for a death to be left "lying" on a Havana street for so many hours.
Amid the torrent of reactions, doubts and speculations typical of social media also emerged, with individuals questioning details of the accident or suggesting hypotheses about the exact cause of death.
But, beyond those conjectures, the narrative that prevailed was that of a death many feel could have been prevented and, due to the way it was revealed, became a symbol of something larger than just an accident.
Because in Cuba, where people move as best they can — by bus when it shows up, on foot when there’s no other choice, and by bicycle to save on a fare that is already a luxury — a pothole is not just a pothole. It is a daily risk. A permanent obstacle. A silent enemy that grows with the lack of lighting, with rain that hides it, with dirty water that disguises it as a puddle, and with the absence of signage. And when the worst happens, as in this case, the impact reaches someone’s home, shatters a family, and leaves unanswered questions.
The death of the cyclist in Reparto Eléctrico has reopened the debate about the deterioration of infrastructure in Havana neighborhoods and the normalization of neglect. Comments noted that on the Island "nothing surprises anymore," that "dying has become normal," and that life feels increasingly fragile in the face of indifference.
So far, no official information about the identity of the deceased has been publicly disclosed. A user mentioned an "Enrique" as a possible acquaintance, but that information has not been confirmed.
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